Incumbent state representatives in the 31st and 47th Legislative Districts were beating their opponents convincingly in early returns of Tuesday's general election.

In the 31st Legislative District, Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake, was besting his Democratic opponent Ron Weigelt of Buckley by 55.6 percent (4,419 votes) to 44.28 (3,515 votes) as of Wednesday morning in the part of the 31st that extends into King County.

In Pierce County, the spread was greater, 57.48 percent (7,839 votes) for Roach to 42.40 percent (5,783).

The 31st district represents part of Auburn, as well as the communities of Bonney Lake, Buckley, Edgewood, Enumclaw, Greenwater, Lake Tapps, South Prairie, Sumner and Wilkeson.

In the race for 31st District Position 2, State. Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Black Diamond, was thumping Sumner Republican Sharon Hanek by 60.75 (4,744 votes) to 39.16 percent (3,058) in King County. The result was similar in Pierce County, where Hurst was earning 59.77 percent of the vote, (8,002) to 40.14 percent (5,375).

In the 47th Legislative District – which represents Kent, Lake Youngs, Auburn, Covington, Black Diamond, and Ravensdale – Democratic State Representative Geoff Simpson of Covington was besting Covington Republican Mark Hargrove 53.81 percent (10,230 votes) to 46.13 percent (8,769 votes.) In the Position 2 contest, Pat Sullivan was earning 59.16 percent of the vote (11,074) to Auburn Republican Timothy Miller's 40.75 percent (7,628).

Contact Auburn Reporter News reporter Robert Whale at rwhale@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5052.

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